East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Broad Street, East Sussex
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for Broad Street, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Water that shows only in certain storms
How a roof leak investigation works in Broad Street
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Flashings at chimneys and walls, valleys, gutters, parapets and flat roof upstands and outlets are the usual suspects. Each of these is checked in turn and we follow where the evidence leads. Chimneys, dormers and roof lights each add joints of their own. Each one is looked at from wherever it is safe to see it. If you’re worried about water coming in around a roof light or dormer and wet patches high on an inside wall, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Broad Street, older roofs have frequently been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you’re thinking of an insurance claim. We look at everything that’s safely in view and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Broad Street (TN36)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in Broad Street
Broad Street lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. In a coastal gale, rain is driven sideways into laps, verges and flashings. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
Historic houses such as Lamb House, about 4.1 miles north-east, show how far back building around Broad Street goes. Leaks in period homes nearby frequently come from lead work and valleys that have been patched before. Anyone responsible for a site like Icklesham Church of England Primary School will know that tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Broad Street is about 5 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We visit Broad Street as part of our work across East Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
We survey roofs across TN36 for roof leak investigations. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Icklesham (1 mile east), Udimore (1 mile north), Cock Marling (2 miles north-east), Three Oaks (2 miles south-west) and Broadland Row (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Hastings (5 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (9 miles south-west), St Leonards (6 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (5 miles south-west), Belmont (5 miles south-west) and Hollington (5 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Broad Street
The closest station to Broad Street is Doleham station, roughly 1.8 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Camber Castle (3.7 miles east) and Winchelsea Court Hall Museum (2.5 miles east). The countryside around Broad Street includes Flatropers Wood.
Places near Broad Street
What else we do in Broad Street
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Broad Street
Some water in the loft is not rain at all. Moist air from bathrooms and kitchens condenses on the cold underside of the roof, particularly in lofts with blocked eaves. Wet nail tips and damp underlay over a wide area are classic signs.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
Landlords with a home close to Doleham station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- What happens after the report arrives
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How long the report takes to arrive
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Broad Street and across East Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Broad Street questions
Is the coastal weather around Broad Street hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
How do I find out if my home in Broad Street is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Thermal imaging is used where it’s useful, and it is part of the Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so we confirm its findings with moisture readings.
Why doesn’t the damp patch line up with the hole?
Water rarely drops straight down. It can follow a timber or the underlay a long way first, so the entry point is often well away from the mark. We follow the route back instead of guessing.
How do I arrange a roof leak investigation in Broad Street?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Stay off ladders and the roof
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Broad Street, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe viewpoint.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
We check the outside of the stack and the breast inside, and it is not a flue or gas safety check.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped.
How we price roof leak investigations
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.